Reference Data

BRAL1 is a member a superfamily consisting of several highly homologous hyaluronan and proteoglycan binding link proteins. BRAL1 is predominantly expressed in brain tissue and spinal cord. Like other members in the link-module superfamily, BRAL1 contains an immunoglobulin-like fold and two proteoglycan tandem repeats (PTRs). Its mRNA expression pattern is similar to other lectican proteoglycans, suggesting that BRAL1 may act to stabilize the binding between the extracellular matrix molecule hyaluronan and brevican. Immunostaining of mouse brain showed BRAL1 expression at P20 in the white matter of the developing cerebellum and in myelinated fiber tracts in the adult brain, suggesting that expression starts when axonal myelination occurs.